Coin-operated machine for selling and affixing postage-stamps



(No Model.)

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- C. M. HEUBLEIN. y YCOIN OPERATED MACHINE POR SELLINGAND AEFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS.

No. 544,620. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. M. HEUBLEIN.

G01N OPERATBD MAGHINB POR SELLING AND AFFIXINSPUSTAGB STAMPS. No.544,620. Patented Aug. 13,1895.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

o. 1v1. HEUBLBIN.

w GOIN OPERATED MACHINE EUR SELLING AND AEEIXING POSTAGE STAMPS.

No. 544,620. #Patented Aug. 13,1895.

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(No Model.) 4 sheets-"sheet 4. C. M. HEUBLBIN. COIN OPERATED MACHINE PORSELLING AND AFFIXING PSTAGB STAMPS.

Patented-Aug. 13, 1895.

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l CHARLES M. HEUBLEIN, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

COIN-OPERATED MACHINE FOR SELLING AND AFFIXING POSTAGE-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.v5,44,620, dated August13, 1895.

Appncnion ned February 14,1895. serial No. 538,373. (NO man.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES` Ml HEUBLEIN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident ofLouisville, in the county of Jefferson and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Coin-Operated Machines for Selling and Affixing Postage- Stamps; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the'same, reference being had to they ac.-companying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, whichforma part of this specification. n

This invention has relation to coin-operated mechanism for the sale andd elivery'of postage-stamps, the object being to provide means ofreliable charac-ter whereby-a person upon depositing the proper coins inthe device may not only be supplied with the required stamps, but alsoby the insertion of his letter have the stamps automatically appliedthereto.

With this object in View the invention consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts, all as'hereinafter described, andpointed out in the appended claims.

The machine shown in the accompanying drawings and which will be nowdescribed is designed to supply stamps of the two-cent denominationonly, and is capable-of furnish# ing and applying to a letter either oneor two of such stamps, as may be desired.

Figure lis a side elevation of the invention, broken away in parts, thelowered position of the letter-chute being indicated in dotted.

lines. Fig. 2 is an elevation upon the opposite side of the mechanismremoved from the box with the partition detached, broken away in parts,and the raised position of the letterchute and the connected lever shownin dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a section on line azac, Fig. l, broken awayin parts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line y y, Fig. 3, with lever6l shown dropped in a notch of the wheel 34, both in dotted lines, theteeth of the comb in engagement with the perforations of the'stamp-sheetand the sliding plunger and presser-footdrawn up into the cylinder. Fig.5 is a section-on line w w,'Fig. 4, through the two sleeves, gearwheels,dac. Fig. 6 is a section on line z a,

Fig. 7.` Fig. 7 is a plan view of parts relating to cylinder 40, saidcylinder being in section. Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of thestamp feeding and detaching mechanism, the roller 46 being at thehighest'point *of its course, and the notched disk 34 and guide-wheel 39partly broken away. Fig. 9 shows detail views of friction-roller 17 andits rocking arms. Fig. lO shows a detail side elevation and plan of thecomb and its attachments. Fig. 11 is a detail of the mutilatedgear-wheel. Fig. 12 is an elevation of 'the sliding plunger andpresser-foot in the direction of the arrow, Fig.

6, the parts intimately connected therewith street letter-boxes commonlyused in cities.

This box isto be placed near the present letterboxes or at such otherpoints as may be most convenient to the public. 2 is an opening or slotin the top or cover portion of the said box which communicates withtheinterior of a coin-chute 3, said opening being normally closed by acover 4, having a knob or handle 5. This cover is attached to a rockingpin 6, having a depressed arm 7 arranged when the cover is opened tocontact with an arm of a pivoted latch 8 inside thebox and swing theopposite arm of the latch to one side, thereby releasing a lever 9. Saidlever extends longitudinally of the box, being fulcrumed at l0, and toits shorter projecting arm is connected a link 1l which is attached tothe upper portion of an inclined letter-chute 12. Said chute isfuicrumed within the box upon a shaft 13, and its upper portion extendsto an opening in the right-hand end ofthe box. Attached to the chute isa spring 14, the tension of which is such as to exert a downward pull onthe upper portion of the chute.

The person desiring to purchase the stamp or stamps first opens thecover 4, which exposes the chute 3, and at the same time, through thearm k'7 and latch 8, releases the lever 9, upon which the spring 14pullsl the chute 12 into the position shown in' full lines in Fig. 2 andexposes the opening to receive lOO the envelope, which is then placed onthe chute, being'first moistened where the stamp is to be placed.

As the envelope is fed down the chute it is stopped at the desiredposition to receive the stamp by means of the prongs or fingers 15 15,which project through slots cut in the bottom. These prongs or lingersare carried by a shaft 16 which turns in proper bearings on the underside of the chute. To this shaft is keyed a small friction-wheel 17,having an attached rocker-arm 18. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) The wheel 17has contact with a stationary segment-arm 19, concentric with the shaft13 of said chute. To insure goed contact between parts 17 and 19 aspring 20 is provided, tangential motion of arm 19 being prevented bypins 2l working in slots of said arm.

)Vhen the upper portion of chute 12 is lowered as above described thelower portion rises, causing the friction-wheel 17 to move on thesegment 19, the friction of the Contact causing the said wheel torevolve in a clockwise direction and thereby raise the prongs 15 throughthe slots in the chute into position to hold the envelope while itreceives the first stamp.

Adjacent to the lowerend of the coin-chute 3 are two wheels 22 23, eachof which has formed in its lperiphery a series of eight regularconcavities or depressions 24. The upper wheel 22 is keyed to a shaft25, which extends transversely across the box and is journaled in thewalls thereof. The lower wheel 23 is attached to and moves a shaft 26,upon which is a spur-wheel 27, which meshes With a pinion 28 on a lowerstationary shaft 29.

The relative positions of wheels 22 and 23 to each other and to thechute are such that a coin coming down the chute 3 is received by theconcavities or notches of said wheels in the manner more fullyhereinafter described and forms a connection between the two, as will beclearly understood by reference to Fig. 1, so that upon the rotation ofshaft 25 and wheel 22 wheel 23 will. also rotate. In the absence of theproper coin said wheels have no connection with each other, and thebalance of the mechanism can in no way be acted upon. The shaft 25,which is the main-operating shaft of the mechanism, is extended throughthe front wall of the box, and is provided with a crank 25. Keyed toshaft 26 is a gear-.wheel 30, which, through an intermediate gear 31,journaled on an arm 31L of the frame, turns a gear-wheel 32, which iskeyed to a sleeve 33 on shaft 26. Said sleeve turns freely on the shaft2G and carries a notched disk 34. On the wheel 32 is a pawl 35, whichacts on a ratchet-wheel 36 keyed to a sleeve 37 turning upon the sleeveThe sleeve 37 carries two guide-wheels 38 and two friction-wheels 39.31h is a pawl, which acts on the gear 3l.`

On the stationary shaft 29 and rigidly connected to the pinion 28 is acylinder 40, both cylinder and pinion turning freely on said shaft. Therelative movements of wheel 27 and pinion 28 are such that the pinionmakes four revolutions to one of the wheel.

41 is a stamp-gripper which is carried by the cylinder 40, workingthrough a slot 42 of adapted to travel on a stationary cam 47, se-

cured to the stationary shaft on which the cylinder revolves. (See Figs.2 and 3.) Said cylinder 40 is cut away at one side, as indicated at 48,and fixed thereto upon the inside is-a cam 49, upon which bears a roller50, which is carried by a cross-head or sliding plunger 5l, moving inguides 53. 54 is a spring, one end of which is fixed to said guides andthe other end to the cross-head near said roller, for the purpose ofkeeping the latter in close contact with the cam. Upon the lower end ofthe cross-head is a pressure-foot 55, which works through the cut-awayportion ofthe cylinder, and whose function is to press the stamp uponthe envelope. The cam 49 has a segmental portion which is arranged tohold the presser-foot up within the cylinder during the main part of therevolution until said foot reaches a position over the envelope andstamp, when the roller 50 drops into a depression 49 of said cam andsaid foot is thrown out and down upon the stamp, pressing it to theenvelope in the manner more fully hereinafter described. (See Fig. 2.)

56 designates the stamp-roll, whichis carried upon 'a shaft 57 in theupper portion of the box. From this roll the stamp-strip is fed downbetween the friction-wheels 39 39 of the sleeve 37, being guided by thewheels 38 and the small rollers 58 58, which are journaled upon arms 59,secured to a rod 60 at one side of the mechanism. Passing between saidrollers and the Wheels 39, the stamps come upon the upper portion of thecylinder 40.

6l designates a pawl or lever, which is vfixed upon a rock shaft 62 andrests upon the notched wheel 34 of the sleeve (See Fig. 2.)

63 designates a comb, which is also secured to the shaft 62 by a pivot64. Said comb extends between the sleeve 37 and the cylinder 40, beingslotted at 64 64 to receive the friction-wheels 39. The inner end ofsaid comb has a series of line oblique dependingr teeth 65, which, whenthe comb falls, as hereinafter described, drop through the perforationsof the stamp-sheet. This comb is held in position by means of lateralstuds (5G, which engage slotted bearings'of a frame (38, which is fixedto the shaft 62.

On the- ICO IIO

`The construction and arrangement of the l parts just described areclearly shown in Figs.

3 and 10. It will be understood that when the point 61a of the pawl orlever 61 drops into a notch of the disk 34, the comb 63 and frame 68will also drop, andthat under the action of a spring 69 said comb willbe pressed down upon the stamp-sheet as the latter rests on the upperportion of the cylinder 40. To impart a vibratory motion to said combwhen it is pressed upon the stamp, it is provided at one of its lateraledges with a pawl-arm 70, designed to engage ratchet-teeth 71 ontheinner end of the cylinder 40,l this motion being assisted by a spring73, which is confined between a lateral edge of the comb'and an arm ofthe frame 68. As the comb vibrates the studs 66 play freely in the slot67. When the perforations of the stamp reach the points of the teeth65,these points drop through and hold the stamp while itl is torn od bythe gripper 4l. lAfter the comb falls, as above described, it is desiredthat it remain lowered for a space of time until the perforations reachthe points and the stamp is torn'off, it being at the same timenecessary to keep the cylinder in motion. I attain this by cutting .outtwo cogs on each fourth part of the Wheel 30. (See Fig. 11.) yTherelative position of this wheel and the'intermediate-gear 31 and partsdriven thereby is such that the last cog of each toothed segment of 30moves wheel 31 and thereby the notched Wheel 34 on sleeve 37 to thepoint where the lever 61 will fall.

into a notch of said wheel. An untoothed portion of 30 then follows,allowing said notched wheel to remain stationary while 30 keeps inmotion. Motion of 34 being again resumed, the lever 61 is raised, whichalso raises the comb, and the next stamp is carried forward where thegripper 41 will take it at the next revolution of the cylinder 40.

Since the stamp-feeding wheels 39 39 and rollers 58 5S are moved by theaction of the pawl 35 of wheel 32 on the ratchet-wheel 36 of the sleeve3.7, it follows that said feeding devices, together with the guidewheels38,

are permitted to revolve freely as the gripper pulls the stamp along.

It will be observed that the wheel 30 makes one and one-fourthrevolutions to one revolution of the wheel 32, making this gain by theomission of the cogs. v

74 indicates a lever, which is fulcrumed at 75 with an arm 74, extendinginto the lower portion of the coin chute 3 through a slot in the wallthereof in position to receive the coin as it rolls down said chute. 76is a spring, which exerts a downward pull upon the opposite arm of saidlever.

77 isa ratchet-and-pawl device, which prevents the operating-shaft 25from being turned, except in one direction.

I will now describethe operation of thel mechanism, beginning at thetime when the envelope is received in the lower portion of the chute 12in position to receive the stamp.

The coins being placed inthe chute 3 roll down said chute in edgewiseposition. The crank 25' is turned, and the r'st coin is taken by thenotch in wheel 22 and is carried or l pushed over the arm 74a of lever74. The tension of the spring 76 on the opposite arm of said lever nowraises or holds the coin in a better position to act upon the lowerwheel 23, (see position of third coin in Fig. 1,) in a notch of which itis partially held. In this position the coin forms a driving connectionbetween 22 and 23, and the cylinder 40, the

The second coin following mechanism to place the first stamp upon theenvelope, giving the cylinder 40 a complete revolution. This movementhas fed the stampsheet into position to be caught by the gripper 41,which actsv in the following manner: As the cylinder 40 commences tomove the gripper is very vnearly at thev position shown in Fig. 8, theroller 46 being' at the highest point of the stationary cam 47. As theroller'. has previously traveled along the cam the bell-crank 44 wasrocked to gradually open the gripper away lfrom the surface of thecylinder. During the time the first coin is acting upon the wheel 23 theroller 46 leaves the highest point of the cam, as seen, Fig. 8, and thegripper is wide open, in which position it is held by the tension of thespring 45. During the rotation ofthe cylinder to this point the line ofactionof this spring has been moved by the rotation of the bellcrankacross the center of the axis 43 of said crank. (Compare Figs. 2 and 8.)The roller 46 now comes in contact with a stop 46a on the frameand isrotatedclockwise by the press- `.ure thereon due to the continuedrotation of the cylinder. The movement thus caused the bell-crank 44again shifts the line of action of spring 45toward vthe axis 43 andslightly closes the gripper. As soon as the line of action of thisspring has passed the axis 43 the tension of the spring pulls the IooIIO

roller 46 toward the center clear of thestop 46 and the gripper closeswith a snap upon the stamp, where it is firmly held. IAt the sametimethe comb 63 falls upon the stamp in the manner which has been described,and as soon as the perforations of the stamp come to the points of thecomb, said points engage therewith and hold the stamp while the gripperin its continued rotation tears it off. The revolutioni of the cylindernow carries the stamp to the point of application to the envelope, atwhich time the roller 46 again comes in contact with the lower portionofthe cam 47, throwing back the bell-crank 4 4, which opens the gripperand releases the stamp, dropping4 it upon the envelope. The presser orsetter 55 IZO now flies out of thc cylinder under the action of the cam49 and spring 54 and presses the stamp on the envelope. From thedescription previously given it will be seen that the stamp presser orsetter is thrown out once upon every revolution of the cylinder, and therelation of movement of this presser or setter and of the gripper ll1 tothe wheels 22 and 23 is such that the action of asingle coin is notsuiiicient to carry the cylinder 40 to the point where the gripperopens, the stamp released, and the presser or setter thrown out. Thesecond coin is necessary to bring about this action and to complete therevolution of the cylinder to leave the roller 4G at the highest part ofthe cam with the gripper open to take the next stamp. On the sleeve ofsaid cylinder is an arm 78, which is arranged to strike the rocker-arm18, before described in connection with the envelope-chute 12,just afterthe stamp setter or presser' is drawn back into said cylinder by itsoperating cam. Upon this contact the shaft 1G is rockedcounterclockwise, which depresses the fingers 15 15, which have up tothis time been holding the envelope. An arm 1Sn of the rocker 1S extendsunder the shaft 13 for the purpose of regulating the movement of saidfingers and preventing them from falling too far. Italso keeps thefriction-wheel 17 from revolving while moving'downward along thesegment- 19 as the lower end of the chute 12 is being lowered at theclose of the operation. The fingers 15 15 being now out of the way theenvelope slides down the chute 12 into contact with stop 79, which holdsit in position to receive the second stamp, if such be desired, and thethird and fourth cents have been deposited. 1f thisis done, the partsrepeat their movements and the second stamp is detached, carried to theenvelope, and applied in exactly the same manner as the rst. Keyed tothe shaft 25 is an arm 80, which is arranged to come in contact with thelong arm, of the lever 9 after the wheel 23 has advanced sufficientlyfar to carry the fourth coin beyond its action. This arm depresses thesaid arm of the lever 9 and through the link 11 connected to the shortarm of said lever, as described, raises the upper portion of the chute12 to its original position and lowers the lower portion away from thestop 79, permittingthe envelope to pass out into a pan 81 providedtherefor. The lever 9 having been lowered by the arm 80, the latch 8,through the action of the spring S, is pulled back to its originalposition over said lever., (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) and at thesame time the upper end of said latch bearing against the depressed arm7 of the pin 6 closes the cover over the coin-chute 3, where it remainsuntil the next purchaser opens it, as hereinbefore described. Theoperation is the same whether or not the third and fourth coins aredeposited. The position of the chtite 12 is such when in its normalposition that anything deposited in the opening of the box in which thechute moves will fallout at the bottom of the box below the chute. Thearrangement also requires the person purchasing stamps to open thecoin-chute first, so that there will loel as little delay as possiblefrom the time of. wetting and depositing the envelope until the stamp isplaced thereon. It will be seen, further, that while the chtite 12extends nearly the full transverse width of the box 1 to adapt ittoenvelopes of diiferent widths and lengths the stamping mechanismis solocated with relation thereto as to apply the stamp upon the usual upperright-hand corner, provided the envelope is properly placed on thechute.

rlhe stamp-rolls are made by properly pasting together the strips tornfrom the sheets of the form commonly issued, and as they are rolled up astrip of oiled paper or similar inaterial of the same width is rolledwith them next to the gummed surfaces. In leading the stamp-strip to thefeeding devices the strip of paper will not be carried with it, but willleave the rolls, as indicated in Fig. 2 by the letter Z. i

82 is a drawer into which the coins fall after leaving the wheels 22 23.

88 is a doorwhich provides accessto the box, and S4: is the locktherefor.

l do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction andarrangement'herein shown and described, as it is obvious that the partsmay be changed somewhat without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

llaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with envelope receiving and holding devices, of stampholding and feeding mechanism, means for detaching the stamps singly andfor applying them to the envelope, and coin-operated gear for actuatingsuch mechanism and means, substantially as specified. v

2. A coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, comprising aninclosing box or case, an envelope chute and envelope holding anddischarging devices, stamp holding and feeding mechanisms, a rotarygripper for de taching the stamps, means for carrying the detachedstamps to the envelope, means for applying the stamp to the envelope,and coinoperated gear for controlling the operation of themachine,substantially as specified.

3. The combination with the box, of a pivoted letter receiving chute,normally out of position to receive a letter, a coin chute, means forclosing said coin chute, and means whereby when the coin chute isopened, the letter chute will be moved into position to receive aletter, substantially as specified.

It. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with a pivoted letter chtite normally not in position toreceive a letter, of a coin chute, a cover therefor, means operated bythe opening of said cover to move said chtite into receiving position,devices for stopping and holding the IOO IIO

letter in said chute in proper position to receive the stamp, and meansfor retractingy said devices when the stamp is applied, substantially asspecified.

5. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine,the-combination with a coin c chute and a cover therefor, said coverhaving its axis formed with adepressed arm, of an inclined, pivoted,letter chute,ra lever connected with said chute, a spring attached tosaid chute, and a latch device arranged to normally hold said leveragainst the action of said spring, and operated by contactk therewith ofthe said depressed arm of the coinchute cover-axis when said cover isopened, substantially as specified.

6. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the box having an opening in one end wall thereof, of apivotal inclined -letter chute whose upper end extends to said opening,a lever which normally holds said chute ont of position to receive aletter, a spring attached to said chute, a latch-device which normallyholds saidv lever, and a coin chute whose cover when opened isarrangedto operate said latch device to release said lever, and therebymove the letter chute into receiving position, substantially asspecified.

7. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, the pivotedletter chute, means for depressing the receiving-portion of said chuteto receive a letter, holding devices for retaining the letter in theproper position on the chute to receive a stamp or stamps, andv meansfor releasing the letter when the stamp or stamps have been applied. f

8. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the pivoted chute 12, and devices for moving said chuteinto position to receive a letter, of the fingers or prongs 15, the rockshaft which carriessaid ngers or prongs, the friction wheel 17 fast tosaid shaft, and a stationary arm 19 with which said friction wheel makescontact, substantially as specified.- l

9. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applyin g machine, thecombination with the pivoted chute 12, and means t for moving said chuteinto position to receive a letter, of the fingers 15 which hold theletter in the proper position to receive a stamp, the rock shaft 16which carries said fingers, the vfriction wheel 17 on said shaft, itsrocker-18, thesegment 19 with which said friction wheel makes contact,means for insuring proper contact of such wheel and segment, and meansfor operating said rocker to depress said fingers, substantially asspecified.

10. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine,the-combination of the pivotal chute 12, means for moving said chuteinto position to receive a letter, the devices in connection with saidchute which hold the letterin proper position to receive the firststamp, means for releasing said holding devices after the first stamphas been applied,

and depress the chute, of the main operating shaft having an armarranged to contact with an arm of said lever after the stamp or stampshave been vapplied and return the chute to its normal position andpermit the discharge of the letter, substantially as specified.

l 12. In acoin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with a coin chute, a`- main operating shaft, and a wheelcarried by said shaft and having a series of peripheral concavities, ofa second and similar wheel below the first which actuates the stampfeeding, detachin g, and applying mechanism, of a spring-actuated-leverover which the coin is forced by the first Wheel and which holds thecoin in position to act on the second wheel and form a drivingconnection between the two, substantially as specified.

13. Ina coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the coin-actuating, and coin-actuated wheels 22 and 23,of stamp feeding mechanism driven by a gear connection with the actuatedwheel 23, a rotary stamp gripper also driven from said wheel 23, andwhich detaches the stamps singly from the sheet, and carries them to thepoint of application, means for actuatingsaid gripper to open and closeit at the proper time, and stamp applying devices also actu- IOO IIO

or operative revolution only upon the successive action of two coinsupon said Wheel, substantially as specified. V

15. In a coin-operatedstamp selling and apfplying machine, thecombination with the coin-actuated stamp feeding mechanism, of thecoin-actuated cylinder 4:0, a stamp gripping device carried by saidcylinder, and means for operating said gripper to causeit to take thestamp from the feeding mechan- 1 ism, andalso to release suchg stamp atthe proper point, substantially as specified.

16. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecoin-actuated cylinder 40, theV gripper 41, the shaft carrying saidgripper and fulcrumed in the end of the cylinder, the bell-crankconnected to said-shaft,

the friction roller carried by vsaid bell crank, a stationary camengaged by said roller, the stop 46, and a spring attached to saidbellcrank and to the cylinder, substantially as specified.

17. In acoin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the coin-operated stamp feeding mechanism, and anintermittently operated comb device for engaging the perforations of thestamp sheet, of the rotary coin-actuated cylinder 40, its stamp gripperil, and means for opening and closing said gripper at the proper time,substantially as specified.

18. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the coin-actuated rotary cylinder 40, its stamp grip4l, the grip operating devices, and the intermittently operatedstamp-applying or setting device, of the letter chute, having means forholding the letter under said setting device, substantially asspecified.

19. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the coin-actuated rotary cylinder, having a cutawaysegment, of the cam 49, affixed to the inside of said cylinder, a guideaffixed to the stationary shaft of the cylinder, a cross head arrangedto slide on said guide, a spring attached thereto, a roller carriedthereby which engages said cam, and a presser foot attached to saidcross-head, substantially as specified.

20. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying device, thecombination With the pivotal letter chute l2, fingers 15 which hold theletter in position in said chute to receive the iirst stamp, arock-shaft which carries said fingers, and a rocker attached to saidrockshaft, of the coin actuated cylinder 40, its stamp grip arranged totake the stamp and carry it to the letter, the stamp applying or settingdevice carried by said cylinder, and an arm attached to said cylinderand arranged to contact with an arm of the said rocker after the firststamp has been applied, whereby said fingers 16 are depressed and theletter is permitted to move into position to receive the second stamp,or to be discharged, substantially as specified.

2l. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombinationwith a stamp roll 56, and its carrying shaft 57, of thecoinactuated sleeve 37 having the stamp feeding wheels 39, the guidingwheels 3S, and the feeding rollers 5S journaled adjacent to said wheels39, substantially as specified.

22. In a coin-operated stamp selling and ap- -plying machine, a comb 63having a series of teeth adapted to engage the perforations of said combwhen lowered, substantially as,

specified.

24. In acoin-operated stamp sellingand applying machine, the combinationwith acomb 63, capable of a vibratory movement, and means for raisingand lowering said comb at the proper intervals, of the rotary cylinderi0, its stamp gripper, arranged Vto detach the stamp While it is held bysaid comb, and means on said cylinder for intermittently vibrating saidcomb, substantially as specified.

25. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with the stamp holding comb 63, and the rock-shaft to whichit is pivotally attached, of the lever 6l fixed to said shaft, and anintermittently rotated notched wheel with which the point of said leverengages, substantially as specified.

26. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination With the stamp-holding comb 63, the rock-shaft to lwhich itis pivotally attached, the lever fixed to said rock-shaft, and thespring 69, attached to said lever and to the frame of the notched wheel34, itsy rotary sleeve, and gear Wheel, and a mutilated gear Wheel bymeans of which said sleeve and the Wheel 34. are intermittently rotated,substantially as specified.

27. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination with a stamp-holding comb '63, a rock-shaft to which it ispivotally attached, and means for depressing and elevating said comb atthe proper intervals, of the frame 68 also attached to said shaft and towhich the comb is movably attached, and means for vibrating said combWhen'it is depressed upon the stamp, substantially as specified.

28. In a coin-operated stamp selling and applying device, thecombination of the coinactuated wheel 23, its shaft 26, gear wheel 30keyed to said shaft, a sleeve 33 loose on said shaft, gear forintermittently rotating said sleeve from the gear wheel 30, a notcheddisk 34: fast with said sleeve, a sleeve 37 arranged to rotate on thesleeve 33, a ratchet Wheel 36 on said sleeve 37, a pawl 35 carried bythe gear of sleeve 33, and engaging said ratchet wheel, stamp-feedingwheels and guides carried by said sleeve 37, and a rising and fallingstamp-holding comb actuated by means of said notched disk 34,substantially as specified.

29. In a coin operated stamp selling and applying machine, thecombination of the coinactuated wheel 23, the shaft 26 turned by saidWheel, the spur Wheel 27 also fast with said shaft, a stationary shaft29, its loose pinion 28 meshing with Wheel 27, the cylinder 40 fixed tosaid pinion 2S, and stamp gripping and stamp setting mechanism carriedby said cylinder, substantially as specified.

30. A coin operated stamp selling and stamp roo IIO

afxin g machine, comprising essentiallyabox or case having therein anormally closed letter chute, a coin chute, a cover therefor meanswhereby when said. cover is opened, said let-- ter chute is moved intoposition to receive a letter, means for holding the letter on said chutein position to receive the first stamp, an operating shaft, a coinreceiving wheel thereon, a second wheel actuated by the passage of acoin between it and the first or receiving wheel, and which is theactuating wheel of the machine, stamp feeding mechanism, a stamp holdingdevice which holds the stamp while it is being detached from the sheet,a rotary gripper which detaches the stamp and carries it to theenvelope, a stamp setting device which appliesthe stamp to the envelope,means whereby the envelope is rec the stamped letter has'been applied,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Y CHARLES M. HEUBLEIN. Witnesses:

JAMES CAssiN,

JESSE G. SEWELL.

